Taylor carried the ball 20 times and scored one of two first-period touchdowns for the Cardinal (12-2), which sealed the victory when Usua Amanam intercepted a Curt Phillips pass with 2 minutes remaining.

Kevin Hogan completed 12-of-19 passes for 123 yards and Kelsey Young ran for a score for Stanford, which won its first Rose Bowl since 1972.

Montee Ball rambled for 100 yards with a touchdown on 24 carries for the Badgers (8-6), who were appearing in the post-season game due to NCAA bans on Big Ten conference champion Ohio State and Penn State.

He became the first player in NCAA history to score TDs in three different Rose Bowls.

Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alverez led the squad in the absence of former Coach Bret Bielema, who left for Arkansas last month.

Thompson entered the game on the final series for an injured Connor Shaw and fired a long pass down the middle on second down which Ellington grabbed at the 5-yard line and ran in for the decisive score.

The game-winner came after Michigan had scored with 3:29 remaining on a pass from Devin Gardner to Jeremy Gallon.

Thompson finished 7-of-9 through the air for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Shaw also fired two scoring passes on 18-of-26 efficiency for the Gamecocks (11-2), who matched the school record for most wins in a single season, first set last season.

Ace Sanders hauled down a pair of TD passes en route to nine catches for 92 yards and also returned a punt 63 yards for a score in South Carolina's victory.

Gardner completed 18-of-35 passes for 214 yards, three TDs and an interception for the Wolverines (8-5).

Gallon made nine catches for 145 yards with a pair of scores and Denard Robinson ran the ball 23 times for 100 yards in Michigan's loss.

NHL, players meet in bid to save season

NEW YORK, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- The NHL and representatives of locked-out players met Tuesday amid renewed hopes they would reach a labor deal to save the remainder of the season.

A contingent of NHL Players Association leaders arrived at 9 p.m. at the NHL offices in New York after the league spent much of the day studying a collective bargaining offer put on the table by the union Monday.

The (Toronto) Globe and Mail reported the two sides were close on the key issues of revenue sharing and pensions.

The NHLPA's proposal came in response to an offer put forward last week by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman aimed at reaching a deal to end a 108-day-old lockout that is threatening to scrub what's left of the NHL's 2012-13 season.

The league has said a deal much be reached by Jan. 11 in order to hold a 48-game season that would begin Jan. 19 following a one-week training camp.

After the NHL reportedly moved in the players' direction on several key points in last week's offer, the sides still disagree on the term of the new deal, salary cap provisions and buyout rules, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

PHOENIX, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Former Philadelphia Eagles head Coach Andy Reid is set to join the Arizona Cardinals in the same capacity, KTVK-TV, Phoenix, reported Tuesday.

The TV station, citing unnamed sources, reported an agreement to hire Reid is "all but done" in the aftermath of his Monday firing from the Eagles following 14 seasons at the helm there.

ESPN and CBS Sports also reported a deal to bring Reid in to replace the fired Ken Whisenhunt as the Cardinals' mentor is close to being completed.

Arizona has yet to conduct an interview with Reid. Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton has auditioned for the job, with Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy also scheduled to meet with the team.

Arizona fired Whisenhunt and General Manager Rod Graves Monday following a 5-11 season.

Reid was the winningest coach in Philadelphia history, going 130-93-1 in the regular season and 10-9 in the playoffs during his time at the helm.

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